Drone News Roundup: New Leaks Reveal Launch Date and Enticing New Feature for the DJI Neo, Epic FPV Drone Video of Windy Road in Transylvania, and More!

This week we’re covering new leaks that reveal the launch date and an exciting new feature for the DJI Neo.

We’re also covering an FPV drone video of the famous Transfăgărășan road in România, a story about a drone pilot using his Avata 2 to help rescue seven people aboard a sinking ship in Utah, a plan to use heavy lift drones for dangerous work on Mt. Everest, and news that the secret service will increase the use of drones following its failure to prevent the assassination attempt of former president Donald Trump.

Now on to the links!

New Leaks Reveal Launch Date, New Feature for the DJI Neo

Todays second #DJINEO promo text leaked, this time via #amazon: “The NEO captures stunning 4K ultra-stabilized video, delivering professional-quality footage. Safety is paramount, with full-coverage propeller guards protecting both the drone and its surroundings during flight.” pic.twitter.com/ynruIJspy6

— Jasper Ellens | X27 (@JasperEllens) August 11, 2024

A recent post on the DJI subreddit by user stipsVEVO revealed a possible new feature for the DJI Neo: voice control. The post shared a draft webpage for the Neo on the DJI site, which included a reference to the drone having voice control. (The webpage has since been taken down.) As for the launch date, drone insider @Quadro_News shared a list of dates in a recent tweet, which has the Neo coming out on August 20. It also has the Action 5 Pro coming out on August 28. Check out the post linked below to learn more about the DJI Neo.

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Epic FPV Drone Video of the Windy Transfăgărășan Road in Transylvania

The Transfăgărășan road in Romania is often touted as one of the best roads for sport driving in the world. This drone video from YouTuber Drone Supremacy takes us on an up-close tour of this windy road, making for a video that’s “full of adrenaline, action & of course drones” as its creator put it. The video was shot in just 24 hours and features establishing shots of wildlife and the scenery surrounding the road, which runs through the Fagaras mountains in Transylvania.

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Drone Pilot Helps Rescue People Aboard a Sinking Ship in Utah

A drone pilot named Stefan Ceciu recently used his drone to help rescue seven people from a sinking boat in Utah. Ceciu had shown up at the Utah Lake to fly his new Avata 2 when he saw first responders from the Utah County Sheriff’s Office gathered at the edge of the water. Ceciu approached emergency personnel to find out if he could fly and they asked about the range of his drone, wondering if he might be able to locate the sinking boat. He quickly put his drone in the air and was able to locate the boat within 15 minutes, sharing the GPS coordinates with police so they could rescue the people, including two toddlers. Unfortunately his drone didn’t make it back—the battery died, and it fell into the lake. Ceciu set up a GoFundMe to replace it, which has already raised almost $2,500, well over the cost of the drone.

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Drones to Help Sherpas on Mt. Everest

Credit: DJI

Last spring, DJI partnered with authorities in Nepal to test its FlyCart 30 delivery drone for transporting trash and climbing gear on Mt. Everest. After evaluating the results, Nepalese officials have decided to make drones a regular part of the work required to scale Everest. Using drones to haul gear from Camp 1 and Base Camp on the mountain will allow sherpas to avoid life threatening treks through the Khumbu Icefall, where over 50 people have died. Using drones for this work does mean that the work of hauling supplies may diminish for locals, but authorities have pointed out that sherpas will always be needed to guide climbers—jobs that pay more than the grueling work of hauling gear—they just won’t have to do the dangerous work of carrying supplies up the mountain.

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Secret Service Will Increase Use of Drones after Trump Assassination Attempt

When Thomas Crooks tried to assassinate former president Trump on July 13, the Secret Service didn’t have a drone on site. It’s been reported that they were also offered the use of a drone by local law enforcement to surveil the rally site, and turned it down. But now they’ll start using drones, says Ronald Rowe, the new Secret Service director. According to a recent statement from Rowe, “We should have had better coverage on that roofline”—and a drone could have provided that coverage. Going forward, the Secret Service plans to use drones for surveillance, both before and during major public events like the rally in Butler, PA where the assassination attempt took place. Crooks did use a drone to surveil the site before he attempted to assassinate Trump, presumably using the drone’s live feed to find the best place for him to try and take his shot.

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